The mandatory hijab regulations of Iran's ruling theocracy have faced serious questioning and defiance since 22-year-old Mahsa Amini's death in custody of morality police in September of last year.
A year into the ensuing nationwide unrest, the Islamic Republic has yet to come to terms with Iranian women over the hijab, a fundamental pillar of its governance for over four decades.
Last month, the conservative parliament, packed with loyalists of the 84-year-old Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, voted to debate a new hijab and chastity bill behind closed doors. The original draft was a joint product of President Ebrahim Raisi's hard-line government and the judiciary.
The bill seeks to specifically criminalize any act in breach of the hijab, with punishments ranging from fines and bans on public service to prison terms up to 10 years. Authorities say it is meant for deterrence and will use smart technology to detect violators. Even shop owners letting in women who don't meet the strict dress code would face closures, as they have been in recent months without the bill.
